New York, April 29, 2010—In the Philippines, political clan members slaughter more than 30 news media workers and dump their bodies in mass graves. In Sri Lanka, a prominent editor who has criticized authorities is so sure of retaliation that he predicts his own murder. In Pakistan, a reporter who embarrassed the government is abducted and slain. In these and hundreds of other journalist killings worldwide, no one has been convicted.

In our special report, “Ten Journalist Murder Cases to Solve,” CPJ challenges authorities to solve these news media slayings and reverse the culture of impunity. Here, CPJ's Robert Mahoney explains why each of these cases can be solved if governments demonstrate political will. Listen to the mp3 on the player above, or right click here to
download. (2:59)

For some delegates, just getting to the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) regional conference in Dakar, Senegal, was an impressive achievement. While his colleagues used more conventional modes of transportation, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) president Frank Kposowa navigated his way out of the country by night in a hired motorized dugout canoe. The state of anarchy in Sierra Leone since the May 25, 1997, coup d'?état had rendered travel virtually impossible, and Kposowa's risky passage was just another example of the challenges facing courageous journalists who chose to remain in the country and risked losing their lives by practicing their profession.

Six months after the coup in Niger led
by General Ibrahim Mainassara, during the July 1996 national elections,
Radio Anfani managing director Gremah Boucar faced down numerous
attempts by Mainassara's military regime to force the station
permanently off the air, including a one-month period where soldiers
stormed and occupied the Anfani studios. Almost a year later, Boucar is
still paying a high price for his commitment to airing uncensored
international and local news: At 3:30 a.m. on March 3, five
unidentified armed men wearing military uniforms ransacked the Radio
Anfani studios and destroyed recently installed equipment valued at
$80,000.